NS supreme court says environment minister “committed palpable and overriding error” around Alton Gas – The Coast Halifax

Project now requires 120 more days of consultation with Sipekne’katik First Nation
Apr 7, 2020

Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia overturned the environment minister’s approval of the Alton Gas project, citing inadequate consultation with Sipekne’katik First Nation. Alton Gas must now resume consultations for 120 days, or until both parties are satisfied. Given the present circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, no start date has been set for these consultations.

The Alton Gas project proposes to store natural gas in salt caverns near Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, and, as part of this process, would dump salt brine into the Shubenacadie River. The legal challenges and grassroots resistance to the project have been ongoing for six years.

In the statement regarding his decision, the justice Frank C. Edwards said that “While there had been extensive consultations regarding the potential environmental impacts of the Project, the core issue of Aboriginal title and treaty rights was never specifically engaged. The Minister therefore committed palpable and overriding error when she concluded that the level of consultation was appropriate.”

Read More: https://www.thecoast.ca/COVID19Needtoknow/archives/2020/04/07/ns-supreme-court-says-environment-minister-committed-palpable-and-overriding-error-around-alton-gas